The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1887-05-29
1T HITS THE LOYAL,
The New York @Times" an
the " Citizens Oath"
WHAT TIE LAW WAS AIMED A
A Prominent Journalist Ma, ~
Agree with Hollister, Bynan.
Baskin and Others.

The anti-poiygamy law enacted
the recent session of Congress, PFC
vides that "evefy male person 81 yea
of age, resident in the Territory
Utah, shall, as a condition precedei
to his right to register or vote at an
election in said Territory" take a ce,
tain oath, which is set forth in sectio
"a of the act. In taking this oath, tb
person who desires to vote IS reuuirs
to Estate his full meme, with his az.
place OF business; his status, whethe
single or married; and if married, IN
name of his lawful wife" and
swear
That he will support the Constitution
the United States, and will faithfully ODE
the laws thereof, and especially will ODE
the act OF Congress approved March 2, fth
section $3.50 Of the Revised Statutes of Ia
United States, in reference 10 bigamy AM
for other purposes" and will also obey thi
act 1.-THE Edmunds- Tucker actl in respect
the crimes in said act defined and forbid
den, and that he will not, directly or ind
rectly, aid or abet. counsel or advise, an
other person to commit any of said crimes.
In the same section it is provided
that no person who shall have been
convicted of any crime under either Of
the two acts mentioned, "or who shall
be polygamist, or who shall associate
or cohabit polvg8mously with persons
of the other SEX" shall be entitled to
vote in Utah.
On the first Monday in August there
will be general election in the Terri
tory, at which members of the Legisla-
ture and local officers will be chosen.
1t is the duty
OF THE UTAH COMMISSION
to provide for the enforcement Of the
law in respect to this oath. 1t has al
ready been enforced at one or two mu-
nicipal elections, and it is now known
that the oath, as set forth in
the act, will be taken generally
by Mormons who are monogs-
mists in practice. The prospect is,
therefore, that the Mormons of the
Territory, who constitute four-ffths of
its population, will not be disfranchised
by the law, but will continue to con-
troll their local affairs.
We learn from Mormon sources that
the Utah Commission formulated an
oath in the very words of the section
which we have quoted, and on March
10 sent printed copies of this oath to all
registration officers; that when it be-
came known that monogamist Nor
mons would take this oath, an organ
ization of residents opposed to Nor
monism asked the Commission to form
ulate another oath, and suggested one
that would require the voter - make
certain statements concerniDR As re-
igious belief; that in, reply Chair
man of the Commission, on erl1 %,
aud his associates, on April g, stated
that the oath already formulated was
in accordance with the requirements
of the law, and that they could not see
that it was either necessary or proper
to make the changes proposed. From
the same source there comes an asser-
ton that this organization now pro-
poses to induce the registrars to ad-
minister an oath more stringent than
that which is set forth in the law.
Moreover, it is said that applicants for
naturalization papers have been re-
lected by courts upon grounds relating
to belief and not specified in the law.
OF course 1t was
INTENDED BY CONGRESS
that the oath should accord in all
respects with the provisions and
phraseology of section "a OF the act,
and if the commission has formulated
an oath in the very words of the
act it has done its plain duty. 1t has
no right to formulate an oath contain
| ing any requirements tLat are not
found in the act. The opponents of the
Mormon Church in Utah are disap-
pointei. it is said, because the monoga-
mist Mormons have decided to take the
commissions oath, and it is reported
that for this reason they ask Tor an
oath which these Mormons would not
take, If their attitude in this matter
has been correctly described IN the
statements which we have received 1t
will tend to convince the public tnaG
they are more anxious toRbtaln pontcal
control of Utah than to suppress the
crime of polygsmy.
shall swear that he will obey the Con-
atitution and the anti-poly gRmy laws
n-ovisions of SECTION "a of the Edmunds
tucker ACb, NO w nv 49,
riehtfulIy or legally be denied the RICH
to vote. If Congress had intended U
disfranchise residents OF Utah 10
religious belief or connection with u,
Mormon Church it would have said 81
in The act. AS it did not say SO, TN
registration officers Of the TerrItor!
have no right to bar ont men 'or incl
belief.
IT'S THE CRIME or PohYGAhT
, and not the belief of Mormon agalns
which the laws are directed. Ever
man in Utah who has violated thos
laws by plural marriage" should b
nromptiv brought before the court
and made To suffer the maximum
penalty provided Tor his offens
With the assistance of the Law
+ rscently enacted. the Federal prosecu'
ing officers and courts ought 10
able TO give every offender ais uese,t
E Tne people will not be satisoeo unte :a
+ these Officers aud courts display. actiN
! ity in the pursuit and prosecution
} Mormon Iaw-breaksrs But that me
should be punished by distrsnchl5emel
or in other ways for holding religion
O baI,ef obnoxious though it may be,
i = dangerous doctrine. 1t has not u
3 sanction of Congressional leglslatlo